– According to my doctors, I can’t really ride a bike, says German Lara Wolleschensky .

Lara Wolleschensky was unlucky and suffered a stroke during childbirth. It has led to hemiparesis on her entire left side, which means half of her body cannot be controlled or moved properly.

– I have always had problems with walking, balancing and using my left hand. This led to the doctors suspecting early in my life that “simple things” such as cycling or walking long distances could become difficult for me, she says candid.

Still, her parents wanted her to be active and be allowed to try everything. Her older sister was her great role model.

– That’s how I learned to ride a bike at an early age. Pedaling evenly, using both halves of the body equally and practicing balance was good for me, she says, and continues:

– So my parents enrolled me in a cycling club. I was the only one with a handicap.

Exchange to Norway

When Lara was 15, she wanted a change in her life. In the 2013/14 school year, she packed her things and went on an exchange to Norway.

– I lived with a host family in Nord-Trøndelag. The year was absolutely fantastic. Maybe the best year of my life, she says.

She says that today, nine years later, she still has good contact with those she met in Norway. Almost every year she travels to visit.

– Part of my heart is still in Norway, says the German girl.

New challenges

Only half a year after the exchange year, Lara suddenly had major problems walking. His hands began to tremble. It was then that she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which causes the nerve signals to be disrupted or blocked.

– Then sport seemed meaningless to me, says the 25-year-old.

In 2018, she therefore contacted “Besi & Friends”. It is a foundation that supports people with autoimmune and neurological diseases. The foundation’s leader, Andreas Beseler, made a clear appeal:

– Just ride a bike. It doesn’t matter if it’s 20 or 70 km, or if you need one or three hours to do it. The most important thing is that you always have fun. You will notice that it will help you.

And it really has. During the corona pandemic, Lara cycled several long and successful distances.

– I noticed that cycling helps me in the fight against my MS, she says.

– Styrkeprøven is a dream

In Germany, Lara participated in several different cycling races. But it was only on a holiday trip to Norway that she heard about Styrkeprøven .

– After that conversation, I couldn’t let go of the idea of ​​participating in this competition, she says, and adds:

– Cycling from a region where I have lived for almost a year, and through this fine country all the way down to the capital. That makes Styrkeprøven a dream now.

And the dream may soon come true. The tough 25-year-old is aiming for next year’s race.

– I feel ready to try the whole distance, although I don’t know if an MS relapse could come before June. If that happens, I will try again in 2024 and possibly until I am able to fulfill my dream.

Because giving up is not an option for Lara.